It is the first time since the final eight polls of the 1996-97 season that the Buffaloes (4-0) have been ranked in The Associated Press poll. The Buffs are not ranked in this week’s coaches’ poll, but are in the “others receiving votes” list.

According to the school, this is the earliest the Buffs have been ranked in a poll since Dec. 30, 1970, when they also were ranked before conference play. CU’s highest ranking ever in the AP poll was No. 3 on Dec. 18, 1963.

Colorado next plays Sunday at home against Air Force.

During the Classic, the Buffaloes beat then-No. 16 Baylor in the semifinals Friday then beat Murray State (4-1) in Sunday’s finale. The Racers were in the “others receiving votes” in last week’s AP poll.

Baylor dropped to No. 24 in this week’s AP poll and down to No. 21 in the coaches’ poll.

MONTREAL — It’s a big deal to play or coach hockey in Montreal and Toronto, and for first-year Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, it’s bound to be extra special because it will be his first time in those historic Original Six markets. Indeed, the Canadian native from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, has never been to the Bell Centre or Air Canada Centre — where...

Shortly before the season began, Holmes, who had been dealing with a nagging hip since September, finally went in to get an X-ray to get the injury addressed. That X-ray revealed a mass on his hip, and following a biopsy, doctors diagnosed Holmes with Osteosarcoma.